Storage container with access panel

ABSTRACT

A storage container has a base with a wall defining an extra opening into an interior volume of the base, and a hinged access panel that is translucent to provide visual access into the interior volume. The hinged access panel is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the open position provides physical access into the interior volume through the extra opening and the closed position covers the extra opening.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to storage containers.

BACKGROUND

Containers are used to store and/or transport a variety of items.However, the variety of items may be difficult to precisely identify orrecall. Generally, a user accesses a storage container to view itscontents by removing a lid. However, depending on the method of storingand/or transporting the storage container, this process can betime-consuming and impractical. Additionally, the contents within thecontainer may spoil, become damaged during transport, or be removedwithout the user's awareness. Therefore, confirming the status of andgaining access to the contents of a storage container by having torepeatedly remove a lid may be costly and challenging.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of a storagecontainer with an access panel for storing and transporting items. Insome embodiments, a storage container includes:

a base having a first opening into an interior volume defined by atleast a wall, the wall having a second opening into the interior volume;

an access panel mounted on the wall, the access panel being at leasttranslucent to provide visual access into the interior volume throughthe panel, the access panel being movable relative to the wall betweenan open position and a closed position, wherein the open positionprovides physical access into the interior volume through the secondopening and the closed position covers the second opening.

In some embodiments, the storage container includes a hinge formationconfigured to allow the access panel to move between the open and closedpositions.

In some embodiments, the hinge formation includes pins formed on theaccess panel and through-holes formed in the wall.

In some embodiments, the access panel includes a latch configured forreleasable engagement with the wall.

In some embodiments, the wall includes a channel configured toreleasably engage with the latch.

In some embodiments, the latch includes a tab.

In some embodiments, the tab has a triangular cross-section.

In some embodiments, the tab is configured for engagement with a surfaceof a channel formed in the wall.

In some embodiments, the base includes tapered walls configured toenable the base to nest with another base.

In some embodiments, the storage container includes a detachable lidconfigured to cover the first opening.

In some embodiments, the access panel has a reinforcement portion.

In some embodiments, the access panel includes a latch having two tabsand an opening between the two tabs configured to receive a user'sfingers.

In some embodiments, a storage container includes:

a base having a first opening into an interior volume defined by atleast a wall, the wall having a second opening into the interior volume;

an access panel pivotally mounted on the wall, the access panel being atleast translucent to provide visual access into the interior volumethrough the panel, the access panel being movable relative to the wallbetween an open position and a closed position, wherein the openposition provides physical access into the interior volume through thesecond opening and the closed position covers the second opening;

a hinge formation including pins formed in the access panel andthrough-holes formed in the wall, each blind hold configured to receivea respective pin to hingedly couple the panel and the wall;

wherein the access panel has a latch configured to releasably lock theaccess panel in the closed position.

In some embodiments, the latch extends laterally from an upper edge ofthe access panel and is elastically flexible between a neutral positionand a depressed position.

In some embodiments, the latch includes a tab.

In some embodiments, the wall includes a channel configured to receivethe tab.

In some embodiments, the access panel is generally transparent.

In some embodiments, the base is constructed of polypropylene.

In some embodiments, the access panel is constructed of high impactpolystyrene.

In some embodiments, the access panel is generally rectangular.

In some embodiments, the storage container includes a lid.

In some embodiments, the base has tapered walls configured to enable thebase to nest with another base.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of features andconcepts of embodiments of the present disclosure that are furtherdescribed below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used in limiting the scope of theclaimed subject matter. One or more of the described features may becombined with one or more other described features to provide a workabledevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the storage container with a closedaccess panel, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the storage container of FIG.1A with an open access panel;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view including an upper lip of thestorage of container of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an access panel of the embodiment ofFIG. 1A;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A, taken along line I-I, withthe access panel in a closed or locked position;

FIG. 4B is the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A, with the access panel inan open or unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 1A including athrough-hole component of a hinge formation formed in an end wall;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view FIG. 4A, including a pincomponent of a hinge formation formed in an access panel in the closedor locked position;

FIG. 6B is the enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 6A, including a pincomponent of a hinge formation formed in an access panel in the open orunlocked position; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a storage container according to anotherembodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure is directed to various embodiments of a storagecontainer with an access panel. Embodiments of the storage container mayalso have a fully detachable lid, and tapered walls which allow multiplestorage containers to nest and be stackable. In some embodiments, theaccess panel is configured in a wall of the container to provide visualand physical access to an interior volume of the container and anycontents stored therein. In that regard, the access panel may betransparent or at least translucent (“translucent” and “transparent”being used interchangeably herein). The container includes a hingeformation that allows the access panel to swing between an open/unlockedposition and a closed/locked position. In some embodiments, the accesspanel may be reattachably detachable from the container, as needed ordesired.

With reference now to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, FIG. 2, a storage container 100according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes a base102 with a bottom 108 having opposing end edges 110 and opposing sideedges 112, first and second side walls 114, 116 connected to theopposing side edges 112, respectively, and first and second end walls118, 120 connected to the opposing end edges 110, respectively. Thebottom 108 and the walls 114, 116, 118, 120 collectively define aninterior volume V which, in some embodiments, may be sealed with a fullydetachable lid 104. The base 102 includes an upper lip 134 thatsurrounds an upper opening into the interior volume of the base 102 andis configured for releasable engagement with a periphery 105 of the lid104, as described further below. With contents placed in the interiorvolume V of the container 100, the lid 104 when positioned on andengaged with the upper lip 134 covers the upper opening and seals thecontents in the interior volume V for safe storage. To visually orphysically access the contents through the upper opening, the lid 104can be lifted by a user to expose the contents for inspection orremoval. The upper opening can be referred to as a first, primary orlarger opening into the interior volume of the storage container.Notably, when lid 104 is engaged with the base 102 and the container hasanother container stacked above it, the user has to unstack thecontainers and lift the lid before the user is able to access theinterior volume through the upper opening.

With reference now to FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the periphery 105 of lid 104has an outer L-shaped edge 402 and a distal inwardly-facing projection404 extending into an undercut 406 in the upper lip 134 of the base 102.The fully detachable lid 104 is detached from the base 102 by a userpulling outwardly (e.g., away from the undercut 406) on theinwardly-facing projection 404 to disengage it from the undercut 406 inthe upper lip 134 of the base 102. After the inwardly-facing projection404 has been disengaged from the undercut 406, the lid 104 may be liftedby the user to expose the interior volume of the base 102. In someembodiments, the undercut 406 may have a sufficient depth to accommodatea user's fingers and to allow a user to more easily pull outwardly onthe inwardly-facing projection 404. In reattaching the lid 104, the lidmay be configured to allow the user to reengage the inwardly-facingprojection 404 with the undercut 406 in the upper lip 134 of the base102 by placing the lid 104 on the base 102 and pressing downwardly onthe outer edge 402 of the lid 104 for a snap-fit engagement.Accordingly, the lid 104 may be releasably attached to the upper lip 134of the base 102.

As also shown in FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the upper lip 134 of the base 102may include an inverted channel 408 of a predetermined length that isconfigured at or near the center of each respective end wall 118, 120.Inward of the undercut 406 with which the projection 404 of the lidengages, the channel 408 is configured to engage with a latch 302 thatis formed on the access panel 106 to releasably lock the access panel inthe closed position, as described further below. The channel 408 isdefined by two opposing side surfaces 410 and a first end surface 412,where the first end surface 412 is contiguous with a second end surface414 that is outer of and parallel with the first end surface 412. Thesurfaces 410 reinforce the surface 412 for reliable engagement with thelatch 302 of the panel 106 when the latch is under load from thecontents inside the container. As also explain below, the channel 408 isaccessible to a user for use as a hand grip to carry or pull thecontainer.

In some embodiments, the first and second side walls 114, 116 and thefirst and second end walls 118, 120 are tapered to allow the storagecontainer to stackably nest within another similar or identical storagecontainer when the containers are empty and the lids 104 are detached.

As mentioned above, the storage container 100 advantageously includes asecond, secondary or smaller opening 117 into the interior volume of thestorage container that is covered by the access panel 106 configured ina wall of the base 102. In some embodiments, the second opening 117 isdefined by inner vertical edges 115 and inner horizontal edge 119 of theend wall 118. In some embodiments, the access panel 106 is transparentto serve as a viewing window allowing at least visual access into theinterior volume V without removal of the lid 104. The access panel isconfigured such that a user can move or reposition the panel to allowinspection or removal of the contents inside the container via thesecond opening 117 while the lid 104 remains engaged with the upper lip134 of the base 102.

In some embodiments, the access panel 106 is generally rectangular ortrapezoidal with first and second vertical edges 122, 124 and upper andlower horizontal edges 128, 126. Between each vertical edge 122, 124near the lower horizontal edge 126, a horizontal cylindrical ridge thatterminates into a respective pin 320 at the vertical edges is providedas a component of a hinge formation that enables the access panel toswing between open and closed positions. As another component of thehinge formation, each inner vertical edge 115 of the end wall 118 nearwhere it meets the horizontal edge 117 has a horizontal through-hole 502configured to receive a respective pin 320, as shown in FIG. 5. Eachhole 502 is sized to allow axial rotation of the pin 320 within thethrough-hole, so that the access panel is hinged for rotation about alongitudinal axis of each pin 320. In some embodiments, the hingeformation allows the access panel to swing about 90 degrees between anupright closed position as shown in FIG. 1A and a horizontal openposition as shown in FIG. 1B.

To facilitate assembly and mounting of the access panel 106 onto thefirst end wall 118 and engagement of each pin 320 into its respectivethrough-hole 502, each through-hole has a chute 503 with side walls 504that help guide each pin to slide into its respective through-hole. Eachthrough-hole 502 has a depth that is greater than the depth of the chute503 so that once a pin 320 reaches its through-hole 502 the pin extendsinto the through-hole and remains engaged with its through-hole. In thatregard, the access panel 106 and/or the base 102 may be made of aflexible material with sufficient “give” that allows a degree of elasticdeformation so that the pins 320 are eased into sliding in the chutestoward the through-holes. Although in the illustrated embodiment thechute 503 is linear, it is understood that the chute may be curved,stepped, or jagged, as needed or desired. In some embodiments, theelastic deformation of the construction materials of the base 102 andthe panel 106 allows complete detachment and reattachment of the panelfrom and to the base, as needed or desired.

In some embodiments, the panel 106 includes lower rim 602 that extendshorizontally between the two vertical edges 122, 124. The rim 602 swingsinwardly when the panel is swung outwardly and vice versa, and thusaccordingly seals a gap between the panel and the inner horizontal edge119 when the panel 106 is in a closed position.

With reference now to FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 3, in some embodiments,the access panel 106 includes a main planar portion 315 and a first anda second outer frame portions 314, 316. In the illustrated embodiment,the first and the second outer frame portions 314, 316 are substantiallyflat portions slightly offset from the main portion 315 but extending ina direction generally parallel to the first end wall 118. The outerframe portions 314, 316 are configured to overlap and seal the innervertical edges 115 of the first end wall 118 and abut against the firstend wall 118 when the access panel is in the closed position. When theouter frame portions 314, 316 are in contact with the end wall 118, theouter frame portions 314, 316 may reinforce the panel 106 and the base102 against an external shock or load to the storage container 100 andmay help to maintain the contents within the storage container 100. Theouter frame portions 314, 316 is configured to form a stop with innervertical edges 115 of the end wall 118 to prevent a user frominadvertently pushing the access panel past the end wall 118 and intothe interior volume of the container. It is understood that thecorresponding access panel and the secondary opening may be any suitableshape or size as needed or desired.

With reference now to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B, the accesspanel 106 according to some embodiments includes the latch 302 thatextends laterally from the upper edge 128 of the panel along a jointline 317. The latch 302 has a generally planar body with an outer flange310, and first and second tabs 306, 308 projecting perpendicularly froman upper surface of the latch. Each tab 306 and 308 has a triangularcross-section to facilitate engagement and disengagement with thechannel 408 and the tabs are separated by an opening 318. The latch 302is configured to elastically flex about the joint line 317 between aneutral position where angle α is about 90 degrees and a depressedposition where angle α is less than 90 degrees (e.g., about 75-80degrees). When the access panel 106 is in the closed position (FIG. 4A),the tabs 306 and 308 are inside the channel 408, abutting the sidesurface 412 of the upper lip 134 of the base 102. When a user wishes torelease the latch 302 and open the access panel 106, the user depressesthe flange 310 which releases the tabs 306 and 308 from the channel 408and allows the access panel to pivot about the hinge formation providedby the pins 320 and the through-holes 502. To close the access panel106, the user swings the panel 106 upwardly and can either depress theflange 310 to ease the tabs 306 and 308 back into the channel 408 orpress the access panel 106 toward the end wall 118 until the tabs clickinto the channel 408. In the illustrated embodiment, the side surface412 of the channel 408 has a slightly outwardly sloped surface whichcooperates with the triangular cross-sectional shape of the tabs 306,308 in engagement and disengagement. In other embodiments, the channel408 and the tabs 306, 308 may have any other suitable shape. In anycase, with the access panel 106 in the closed position, a user may stillconveniently use the channel 408 as a hand grip by inserting fingersupwardly through the opening 318 in the latch 302 when grasping theupper lip 134 without inadvertently opening the latch 302. In thatregard, the flange 310 does not extend beyond the upper lip 134 so thatthe latch and the upper lip 134 present a comparable profile and theupper lip 134 protects the latch from inadvertent contact that mayunintentionally release the latch. However, it is understood that insome embodiments it may desirable for the flange 310 to extend past theupper lip 134.

In alternate embodiments, additional latch(es) may be provided on theaccess panel 106 at any other suitable locations on the panel, and/orone or more latches may extend from the end wall 118 at any suitablelocations to releasably engage with the panel 106.

It is also understood that the joint line 317 may include a living hinge(i.e., a thin flexible hinge connected to two relatively rigid piecesand configured to bend along a designed axis of rotation) or any otherhinge mechanism that allows the latch to bend along a desired axis ormove between a neutral locking position and a flexed unlocked position.

When the access panel 106 is securely latched to the base, the panel 106can remain generally coplanar with the proximate wall despite externalforces that may otherwise dislodge the access panel 106 from its closedposition.

In some embodiments, the access panel 106 may include one or morestrength reinforcing portions 312 that are offset from the main portion315. The one or more strength reinforcing portions 312 providestructural support for the storage container 100 and help resist a loadexerted by the contents of storage container 100 shifting or applied byan external impact. In some embodiments, the one or more strengthreinforcing portions 312 may be a single ridge or a series of ridges. Insome embodiments, the one or more strength reinforcing portions 312 maybe a ridge with a flat peak or plateau.

In the illustrated embodiment, the access panel 106 is a rectangularshape. In other embodiments, the access panel 106 may have any othersuitable shape. For example, the panel 106 may be a circular, a curved,or a polygonal shape. In some embodiments, the storage container 100 mayinclude a plurality of access panels 106 in a single end wall or in morethan one end or side wall (as shown in FIG. 7).

The base 102 may be constructed of any suitable material, including, forexample, polypropylene (PP). The access panel 106 may be constructed ofany suitable material, including, for example, high impact polystyrene(HIPS), for translucency or transparency characteristics.

While this invention has been described in detail with particularreferences to exemplary embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodimentsdescribed herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scopeof the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Persons skilled in theart and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate thatalterations and changes in the described structures and methods ofassembly and operation can be practiced without meaningfully departingfrom the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention, as set forthin the following claims. It is understood that the drawings are notnecessarily to scale and that any one or more features of an embodimentmay be incorporated in addition to or in lieu of any one or morefeatures in another embodiment. Although relative terms such as “outer,”“inner,” “upper,” “lower,” “below,” “above,” “vertical,” “horizontal,”and similar terms have been used herein to describe a spatialrelationship of one element to another, it is understood that theseterms are intended to encompass different orientations of the variouselements and components of the invention in addition to the orientationdepicted in the figures. Additionally, as used herein, the term“substantially,” “about,” “generally” and similar terms are used asterms of approximation and not as terms of degree, and are intended toaccount for the inherent deviations in measured or calculated valuesthat would be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art.Moreover, the tasks described above may be performed in the orderdescribed or in any other suitable sequence. Additionally, the methodsdescribed above are not limited to the tasks described. Instead, foreach embodiment, one or more of the tasks described above may be absentand/or additional tasks may be performed. Furthermore, as used herein,when a component is referred to as being “on” another component, it canbe directly on the other component or components may also be presenttherebetween. Moreover, when a component is component is referred to asbeing “coupled” to another component, it can be directly attached to theother component or intervening components may be present therebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage container comprising: a base having afirst opening into an interior volume defined by at least a wall, thewall having a second opening into the interior volume; and an accesspanel mounted on the wall, the access panel being at least translucentto provide visual access into the interior volume through the panel, theaccess panel being movable relative to the wall between an open positionand a closed position, wherein the open position provides physicalaccess into the interior volume through the second opening and theclosed position covers the second opening.
 2. The storage container ofclaim 1, wherein the storage container includes a hinge formationconfigured to allow the access panel to move between the open and closedpositions.
 3. The storage container of claim 2, wherein the hingeformation includes pins formed on the access panel and through-holesformed in the wall.
 4. The storage container of claim 1, wherein theaccess panel includes a latch configured for releasable engagement withthe wall.
 5. The storage container of claim 4, wherein the wall includesa channel configured to releasably engage with the latch.
 6. The storagecontainer of claim 4, wherein the latch includes a tab.
 7. The storagecontainer of claim 6, wherein the tab has a triangular cross-section. 8.The storage container of claim 6, wherein the tab is configured forengagement with a surface of a channel formed in the wall.
 9. Thestorage container of claim 1, wherein the base includes tapered wallsconfigured to enable the base to nest with another base.
 10. The storagecontainer of claim 1, further comprising a detachable lid configured tocover the first opening.
 11. The storage container of claim 1, whereinthe access panel has a reinforcement portion.
 12. The storage containerof claim 1, wherein the access panel includes a latch having two tabsand an opening between the two tabs configured to receive a user'sfingers.
 13. A storage container, comprising: a base having a firstopening into an interior volume defined by at least a wall, the wallhaving a second opening into the interior volume; an access panelpivotally mounted on the wall, the access panel being at leasttranslucent to provide visual access into the interior volume throughthe panel, the access panel being movable relative to the wall betweenan open position and a closed position, wherein the open positionprovides physical access into the interior volume through the secondopening and the closed position covers the second opening; and a hingeformation including pins formed in the access panel and through-holesformed in the wall, each blind hold configured to receive a respectivepin to hingedly couple the panel and the wall, wherein the access panelhas a latch configured to releasably lock the access panel in the closedposition.
 14. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the latchextends laterally from an upper edge of the access panel and iselastically flexible between a neutral position and a depressedposition.
 15. The storage container of claim 14, wherein the latchincludes a tab.
 16. The storage container of claim 15, wherein the wallincludes a channel configured to receive the tab.
 17. The storagecontainer of claim 15, wherein the access panel is generallytransparent.
 18. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the base isconstructed of polypropylene.
 19. The storage container of claim 13,wherein the access panel is constructed of high impact polystyrene. 20.The storage container of claim 13, wherein the access panel is generallyrectangular.
 21. The storage container of claim 13, further comprising alid.
 22. The storage container of claim 13, wherein the base has taperedwalls configured to enable the base to nest with another base.